Defibrillators in PA schools

April 16, 2014 —

HARRISBURG, PA — Legislation is heading to Gov. Tom Corbett’s desk that will help ensure that every school in Pennsylvania has an automated external defibrillator (AED) that is up to date and ready to use.

“This piece of legislation is especially close to my heart,” said Sen. Andy Dinniman. “For two years I have been working closely with the family of Aidan Silva, a seven-year-old who tragically passed away from sudden cardiac arrest in 2010, to pass this legislation.”

Earlier this legislative session, Dinniman introduced Senate Bill 606, which was dubbed “Aidan’s Law” in honor of Silva. The language of that bill became House Bill 974, which was overwhelmingly approved by the legislature this week. The legislation calls for the commonwealth to create a registry of AEDs in public and private schools, including their age and condition. To assist schools without AEDs or with outdated AEDs, the Commonwealth will biennially issue an RFP for AEDs, negotiate a bulk-rate price, and then provide them to schools at cost.

According to the American Heart Association, AEDs dramatically increase the chances of survival for people who suffer sudden cardiac arrest.